Cable squeezer



I 1,642,508 pt. 13,, H D. ROBINSON I CABLE SQUEEZER Filed June 14. 1926 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 avwemtoz Holt oh D. Robinson @513 $1115 aft cine Se t. 13 1927. v

p H. D. ROBINSON CABLE SQUEE'ZER Filed June '14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwemtoz Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFIC E.

HOLTON D. ROBINSON, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y.

CABLE SQUEEZEB.

Application filed June 4,

tangent to the cable surface wherefore much 7 of the force acts indirectly on apart of the cable and does not produce the fulleffectdesired, the tendency being toward the-formation of a cable elliptical instead of circular in cross section.

In my improved mechanism, the force is applied radially of the cable at as many points as may be found desirablepreferably by means of a series of more than two indewhereby pendently movable compressors acting directlyagainst the surface of, the cable,

all of the pressure exerted by the.

Y mechanism is utilized to do the desired work of forming the cable into shape. 1 j

In the laying of suspension bridge cables, individual wires subsequently formed into circular bundles of wires, suitably'bound together, are drawn across between the bridge towers and additional similar bundles are ar ranged concentrically about'the first bundle untilthe required number of wires needed to completethe cable are stretched between thetowersl The cross section of; the series of the bundles so arranged is therefore substantially hexagonal, instead of circular. It then becomes necessary to put pressure upon the bundles preferably at the points forming the corners of. the hexagon, so that the individual bundles may be broken up, and the spaces between bundles may consequently be filled up-by the wires separated therefrom to form a compact mass of wires, each, of which isin intimate contactwithallof the adjacent wires. I Y invention contemplates the provision of means for applying the requisite pressure in the most .direct and efiective manner and.

includes a frame on whichare mounted a ser esof radially, movable compressors adaptedto acton the wires in'the aforesaid bundles in suchfa manner as to force-them 1926. 7 serial No. 115,788. 7

into the desired positions. The variousobjects of my invention will be clear from the description which :follows and from the drawings, in which,"

, Fig. 1 is a front view ofthat form'of my device designedv for use in connection with large cables. l I

Fig. 2 is aplan View and partial horizontal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the form suitable for smaller cables, and v Fig. .4 isa bottom plan View of the same.

the practical 'embodimentof my invent1on,I provide a frame/designated generally by the numeral 10, which is formed of sections orsegments removably attached to each other to permit the frame to be opened and passed about the cable to beisqueezed into shape at any desired place along the length of the cable. Asishown in Figs. 1 and 2,

each of the frame segments 11 takes, form of one of the sides of a polygon which is preferably a hexagon, for the; reasons hereinbe fore pointed'out. The segmentll consists of a pair of oppositely disposed channels 12 arranged back to back, the channels being made somewhat shorter than the length of the-side of the polygon toallow for the in-' sertion .and attachment therebetween of the bearing 13. The cylinder '14, formingthe main part ofthe bearing, is arranged be tween the ends of adjacent segments 11' and carries the plates 15 spaced apart a sufficient distance to fitbetween-the backsof the channels 12. For reinforcing the plates, a bracing web or rib as'16'may-be extended there between.., Bolts as 17: are passed through suitableholes in the channels 12 and the plates 15 for removably. securing the frame parts together.

vInto the preferably cylindrical, opening 18 of each of the bearing cylinders la, is driven the bushing 19, which is suitably flanged at its innermost end asatYQO. The ram '2l may-be moved axially in the bushing 19 by means of hydraulic pressure in the .usualjmanner, the, liquid entering the opening 22' atthe outermost end of the bushing. For forming a leak-proof joint between the ram a'ndwall of the bushing, 23, held in place nut as 24, is provided. It will be seen that Q "the packing on the ram by a suitable theram .21 ismoved radially of the'frame 10 by the pressure'thereon and is guided in its bodily radial movement by the walls of the bushing 19,,-

ill

till

The ram is secured to compressor member oil? which a series is provided, by the in nation thereof into the hole 26 of said memher, a suitable pin or bolt 27 preventing the separation of the parts. It will be understood that for cables of large diameter, it. is :ulrisable to cause the eompressor members to exert pressure on the r: hie radially prelerablr at the corners of the hexarmn into I 2 oil wires naturally term.

which the hnudl the most force is returned.

at which corner 'l.he lara'er the "able diameter. therefore the more numerous willv be the rides ol' the polrrmnal Ll'rame Within reastniabh) limits, and donsequentlv. the more compressor members 125 will be used, and conversely, the smaller the cable dian'ieter, the less compressor meml. rs will be needed. provided that not less than three are employed. In the squeezer used For smaller cables. it will be seen that the construction oi the frame segments may also be simplified, as will be pointed out more tullv hereinalter. it is preterahle however. to use the hexagonal Frame and six comprwsor members for large cables. and the triangular frame and three eonuiressor members tor the smaller cables.

The compressor member tor all sizes of cables however. is substantially the same. the only dill'orenc-e being in the angle x uldrinlezl thereby. sor members are used as in Fists. l and 2. the amrlo subtended by earh will be somewhat rrreater than (30 and where only three are used as in Fig 3 and l. the ansrle vubtem'lol hr each will be slightly greater than 120. l'laeh of said men'ibers bower preferably has its greatest thickness at :28, about its center line where the thrust is greatest. its least thickness atthe ends. 99 and 30 and has an inner ,eylindrieal surface 31 ot th same elu'vature as that: of the finished squeezed cable. The end 29 oi. the ("OII'HHQS- sor member is made in the'lorm ot a tongue. while the end 30 has a groove in the n'iiddlrthereot adapted to receive the tongue end 5 30 of the adjacent member, so that said members are arranged in the frame. in overlapping or intorloeltimr relation, While each may be moved independently of: the others, if desired. thrtme'h the ram to which it is attached. T1] the operation of my improved -able squeezer, however. I prefer to supply liquid unilorn'lly and simultaneouslr toall ol' the rains 21 so that the pressure exerted by oa h of the compressor members on the cable is substantially the same and the entire outer surface of the cable is brought to its tinal position at about the same time:

llc'tm-i'irmg nor: to the frame used or i-nnallor cable: as shown in Fini fl and -i-. the

channels 1;? man be dispensed with. as mar the separate bearing 13. and in place there' oi. the srement 32 may be used. consisting of a single piere oi. which he bearing 33 may For instance, Where six eompresbe an integral part. tilue end i-l-l ot each at the segments 3;) pre'l'erably llCl'lllllll tea in a tongue. Wllllt the other end 35 may terminate in a suitable groove 36 adapted to receirc the ttmguo Eli ol the adjacent 'l'rame segment. The ends ol the segments have hdles therein through which a suitable pin or bolt 37 is passed for romorahly holdimr the semneula in place.

it trill be midorstood that either type (it frame shown or any other suitable type may be used in eouneetiou with. my improved derirr. provided that the frame is .--:l'at .onary and rigid while in operation to allow the compressor members to operate properly. it will iturther be understoml that the embodiments o'l. 'ny invention shown and doscribed are intended to be merely illustrative and that various changes may be made thercin and equivalents substituted, :tallirrgr \vit:-hin the scope and range of the appemled claims.

.I' claim:

1. In a saueezor for suspension bridge cables, adapted to he arranntal in position at various points in a rahle For exerting prev sure thereon. a seriea ol' stationary frame seq'ments. eaeh f-llll lltl'ltllll;1 a central angle not greater than. 120", means tor detaehably set-urine; said segments together. a series of imlependently movable eooperatimr rompressor members arrairijral tor movement radially only oi and relatively to said stub meals. a rain at the outer end oi each of said members. and a cylinder having an opening in the end thereof, for said ram wherel'iy said ram may be operated by the hydraulic pressure oi a liquid forced through into said cylinder through the openings thereof.

In intehanisni ot the character described. a movable ernnpressor member. a stationary polygonal t-losed lraine adapted to be arranged about a eable l'or supporting:- said compressor member, a hydraulic cylinder at ca d1 of the corners of said frame. and a ram on said compressor member n'ioy'able in said :ylinder, whereby said member may be moved bodily toward the renter of said :l'rame and relatively to said 'l'rame.

3.111 a squeezer for suspension bridge cables. :1 series of 'lran'le segments, means at; the ends of said segments for detachz'rbly securing: said segments together to form a sta tionary, rigid. polygonal it'rame. adapted to be arranged about a table, a series of independent, interlocking COll'lPl'QSSOI members, a cylindrical inner surface of. predetermined curvature on each of said members :11 'ane'ed to form a complete cylindrical snrfaco ot predetermined .'urvat:ure at the innermost:- positions of said members and means for allowing axial movement of each of said members bodily relatively to and toward the renter of said frame comprising a hydraulic HEN v thereupon in one of said openings;

a cylindrical ram detachably connected to each of said members and arranged for bodily radial movement by hydraulic pressure I. 5. In a squeezer for suspension bridge cables, a regular, closed polygonal frame of little altitude adapted to be opened and arranged about a cable and having a series of radial openings at the corners thereof, a series of independent interlocking compressor members, a cylindrical inner surface of predetermined curvature on each, of said members, and a ram connected to each of said members and arranged'for bodily radial movement in one of said openings relatively to said frame.

6. In a squeezer for suspension bridge cables, a series of frame segments, bolts for detachably securing said segments together to form a stationary,rigid, polygonal frame, adapted to be arranged about a cable and moved from place to place thereon, bushings each having a cylindrical opening therein arranged radially of and at the corners of said frame, a series of independent'interlocking compressor members, a cylindrical inner surface ofpredetermined curvature on each of said members arranged to form a -complete cylindrical surface of predetermined curvature at the innermost positions 'of said members, and a cylindrical ram secured to each of said members and movable bodily axially and'radially of the frame by hydraulic pressure in one of said bushings,

whereby the cable may be changed from a hexagonal to a circular cross-section.

7 In a movable squeezer for suspension bridge cables, a compressor member, substantially symmetrical about its axis and having a cylindrical inner surface of predetermined curvature terminating in a tongue at one end and a groove at the other end adapted to receive .the tongue of a similar member, and means for guiding said member for allowing only axial movement thereof comprising a segmental polygonal frame of, comparatively little altitude adapted to be opened for passage about a cable and rigidly closed thereafter, and a bushing at a corner of said frame adapted to engage the outer part of said member. 7

8. In a movable squeezer for suspension bridge cables, a series of similar compressor members separate and independent of. each other and each subtending an angle not greater than 120 and means for controlling the movement of each of said members axially and independently of the movement of the remainder of said members comprising a segmental frame having corners thereon and adapted to be passed about a cable'and then rigidly closed, and a bushing adapted to have liquid forced. thereinto at each of said frame corners for engaging the outer part of one of said members.

9. In a squeezer for suspension bridge cables, a hexagonal frame adapted to be openedfor passage about a cable and moved from place to place on said cable, a series of and adapted to have hydraulic pressure put thereon for moving one of said compressor members independently of the other combolts detachably pressor members for putting pressure on the v cable.

"HOLTON D. ROBINSON. 

